Lily plant lilium `India`

ABSTRACT

A new variety of hybrid lily plant bears large clusters of flowers of excellent form and long persistence. The flowers of the new plant are particularly characterized by their consistently outward-facing flowers which are close to its stem. This combination is completely new in the Asiatic hybrid lilies. The plant is highly resistant to disease. It is an excellent pot plant as well as garden plant. The bulbs may be precooled and forced for pot flower production. The clone is vigorous and is a good grower and propagator.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

My new variety of hybrid lily plant, which I call "India", originated asa seedling selected from a growing in a cultivated area at Independence,Oreg. The seedlings resulted from breeding efforts carried on by mesince 1977. The breeding efforts had as their objective the productionof fast growing outward-facing Asiatic lilies in red color, its flowersclose to a truly genetic short stem which is suited for pot-flowerproduction.

I achieved the desired objective by using as the seed parent a short redseedling clone produced by crossing an unnamed outward-facing red clone;the pollen parent was an orange-colored seedling selected from the samecross. The parental seedlings were selected because of their tendency toproduce hybrids with outward-facing flowers and short stems.

The flowers of my new plant are characterized by a consistentlyoutward-facing position, a red coloration, and broad-tepalled"cup-shaped" form, unusually thick substance. In addition, the clonepossesses to a high degree the desirable characteristics of hybridvigor, great hardiness, and disease resistance. It possesses all of thedesired characteristics of excellence of form, color, and habit. Itsflowers are produced on a single stalk. The clone is vigorous and a goodgrower and propagator, as observed at Independence, Oreg.

This combination is completely new in the Asiatic hybrid divisions oflilies suited for forcing of pot growing and to mass commercialcultivation. The variety is highly resistant to botrytus disease andshows tolerance of virus. The bulbs may be precooled and forced forpot-flower production. The clone is vigorous and is a good grower andpropagator.

My new variety of lily plant has been asexually reproduced by me andunder my direction at't Zand, Netherlands, and at Independence, Oreg.Successive generations produced by bulb scale propagation, by naturalpropagation from bulblets, and by tissue culture propagation havedemonstrated that the novel and distinctive characteristics of my newvariety are fixed and hold true under asexual propagation fromgeneration to generation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

My new variety of lily plant is illustrated in the accompanyingphotographic drawing, which shows the open bloom in full color andillustrates the flower form, the tepal arrangement, the connection ofthe flower to the stem, and in particular the novel and distinctiveoutfacing red flowers which are close to the stem.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of my new variety of Asiatichybrid lily, with nomenclature according to the International LilyRegister (Royal Horticultural Society of London, Second Edition, 1969),and with color designations according to the Color Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society, published by the Society in 1966.

THE PLANT

Origin: Seedling.

Seed parent.--Selected red seedling.

Pollen parent.--Selected orange-colored seedling.

Commercial classification: Hybrid Lilium clone.

Horticultural classification: Division 1-B, outward-facing Asiatichybrid lily, according to The Horticultural Classification of Lilies,Royal Horticultural Society of London.

Form: Single stem, erect and stately.

Height: 12 to 25 cm from bulbs 14 to 18 cm in circumference, providedtheir light levels are adequate; low light levels may cause"stretching".

Growth: Vigorous and upright.

Foliage quantity: Abundant.

Size of leaf: 12 to 14 cm long×1 to 2 cm wide; the leaves are slightlyshorter and broader at the top of the stem.

Shape of leaf: Lanceolate (pointed).

Texture: Leathery and glossy.

Color: Deep green, lighter on lower side.

Bulb size: Any size, ranging to 20 cm circumference commercially.

Bulb color: White.

THE BUD

Form: Obtuse, ovoid, and long.

Size: 6 to 9 cm long and 4 to 7 cm in circumference just prior toopening.

Opening: Bud opens slowly, in response to morning light; this will takeapproximately one hour.

Color: Soft Red (R.H.S. C.C. Red 42 B -43 B) which shades into browngreen at base; midribs are close to R.H.S. C.C. green group 143 C. Coloris intensidied by cool temperatures.

Peduncle: Averages 1 cm, but in may elongate if light levels are too lowor if bulbs have been improperly stored prior to forcing. Color is darkgreen with plum overlay.

THE FLOWER

Blooming habit: Annually in midseason; flowers once and profusely.

Size: Flowers are 10 to 15 cm in diameter, the outer tepals are 2 to 2.5cm wide, the inner circle of tepals are 2.5-3.5 cm wide.

Borne: In a single umbel inflorescence producing 6 to 10 buds from abulb 15 to 18 cm in circumference.

Shape: First open in cup shape, which flattens as tepals recurve bysecond day.

Tepalage: Typical of genus Lilium, with 6 imbricated tepals.

Tepal color: Flowers are distinguished by their soft red color pattern.The base of the tepals is R.H.S. C.C. Red 44 A, shading into a mix ofR.H.S. C.C. Orange-Red 30 D and Red 40 B. The color is produced byanthocyanin pigments which are affected by light levels and temperature,therefore the red will intensify under cool temperatures and high lightintensities. High light levels associated with high temperatures willdegrade the pigment and cause the flowers a much softer red. Very lowlevels inhibit anthocyanin formation and cause a lighter flower color.

Tepal spotting: None.

Tepal longevity: Tepals stay on stems about two till three weeks.

Pedicel length: Most of the pedicels are 3 to 5 cm long, but a few mayreach 6 cm.

Pedicel color: Dark green with plum overlay.

Pedicel form: Sturdy and ascending, up to 45 degrees from thehorizontal.

Color changes: Flower color may change because of changes in temperatureand lighting as the flower ages, as described under flower color.

Appearance: Flower is shiny.

Disease resistance: The plant is resistant to disease; in particular toBotrytis blight.

Fragrance: None.

Lasting quality: The flower is long lasting, both on the plant in a potor on the plant in the garden.

THE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens: Arrangement typical of genus Lilium. Six stamens with softgreen to palest pink filaments 7 to 9 cm long.

Pollen and anthers (dehisced): Close to R.H.S. C.C. greyed red 178A.

Pistil: One in number, 5 to 7 cm long.

Stigma: R.H.S. C.C. Red Group 44 B, small in size.

Characteristics of ovary: Characteristic of genus Lilium.

THE FRUIT

Fertility: The fruit is fertile.

Shape: Ovoid.

Color at maturity: Soft brown, sometimes overlaid with soft plum.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinctive variety of Asiatic hybrid lily plantsubstantially as herein shown and described, characterized by its highresistance to disease; its vigorous growth and rapid naturalpropagation; and in particular by its unusual consistency close to itsstem "outward-facing" red flowers are unique among Asiatic hybridlilies.